GoHands Co., Ltd. (株式会社GoHands) is a Japanese animation studio located in Yodogawa-ku, Osaka. It was founded in 2008 by Ringo Kishimoto and former members of Satelight.
Known for their unique house animation style, GoHands have produced a number of anime series and films, including adaptations of Seitokai Yakuindomo (2010), Mardock Scramble (2010), Coppelion (2013) and The Girl I Like Forgot Her Glasses (2023), as well as original anime including K (2012), Hand Shakers (2017), and Momentary Lily (2025).
History
GoHands was founded in August 2008 by Ringo Kishimoto and other former employees of Satelight's former Osaka Studio 2.[1] The company's name derives from the desire to be able to "put food (ごはん) on the table by making anime" and the kanji han (阪) used in the Japanese spelling of Osaka Castle (大阪城).[2] The studio's first production as lead producer was an adaptation of the adult visual novel Princess Lover! in July 2009.
The company has two studios: a head office in Osaka, and a second studio in Suginami Ward, Tokyo. GoHands does not operate a public website or any social media profiles and employs a policy of completing works entirely in-house and completing the production of all television anime episodes before broadcast begins.[2]
Tokyo Babylon 2021 plagiarism controversy and cancelation
On October 25, 2020, an anime adaptation of Clamp manga series Tokyo Babylon was announced, to be produced by GoHands in cooperation with King Records. A presentation for the project, entitled Tokyo Babylon 2021, was held on November 19, 2020, confirming that the series would be directed by Shingo Suzuki and Susumu Kudo and premiere in April 2021. A day later, however, on November 20, 2020 the anime production committee was accused of plagiarizing outfit designs from the Volks Doll company, and the K-pop group Red Velvet.[3][4] After an investigation, on December 4, 2020, the anime producer apologized on their official website and announced that they would be changing the designs.[5] Due to the necessary changes to be made, on December 24, 2020, the anime production committee announced that the series was delayed to an unspecified date.[6] After more cases of plagiarism surfaced through an internal investigation, on March 29, 2021, the production committee announced that the current TV series would be canceled, while a new anime production would be produced by a different studio.[7]
On August 3, 2021, it was reported that GoHands was suing King Records for ¥450 million for failing to pay the expenses they previously agreed to pay. In the lawsuit, it was revealed the GoHands series was planned to have run for 21 episodes. According to the same lawsuit, the first 13 episodes were completed by November 2020.[8]
Animation style
GoHands is known for its unique house animation style, which combines traditional 2D character animation with 3D computer animated backgrounds, often featuring complex camera movements, particle effects, and aggressive postprocessing.[9][1] The studio's style has been simultaneously described as controversial, striking,[10] and bizarre.[11][1]
Productions
Anime television series
Anime films
Original video animations
External links
References
- Anime Craft Weekly #26: Please Gohands and Never Come Back Sakuga Blog, 2017-01-13, retrieved 2025-02-08^
- 「株式会社GoHands」会社見学会へ！｜新着情報｜ECCコンピュータ専門学校 ECCコンピュータ専門学校, retrieved 2025-02-08^
- アニメ『東京BABYLON』放送延期 キャラ衣装の模倣問題受け再び謝罪「深く反省」 ORICON NEWS, 2024-06-25, retrieved 2025-02-08^
- Lynzee Loveridge. Tokyo Babylon 2021 Character Designs Appear to Reference K-Pop Group, Volks Doll Anime News Network, November 23, 2020, retrieved October 10, 2023^
- http://tokyobabylon2021.jp/news/201204-1/ Tokyo Babylon 2021, December 4, 2020, retrieved October 10, 2023^
- Crystalyn Hodgkins. Tokyo Babylon 2021 Anime Delayed From April 2021 Due to Plagiarism Incident Anime News Network, December 24, 2020, retrieved December 24, 2020^
- Rafael Antonio Pineda. Tokyo Babylon 2021 Anime Canceled with Restart Planned, After More Plagiarism Uncovered Anime News Network, March 29, 2021, retrieved March 29, 2021^
- Egan Loo. Tokyo Babylon 2021 Studio GoHands Sues King Records for 450 Million Yen Over Canceled Anime Anime News Network, August 5, 2021, retrieved August 5, 2021^
- This Week in Anime - Throw Hands with GoHands Anime News Network, 2025-02-08, retrieved 2025-02-08^
- Jonathon Greenall. The Strange History Of GoHands, The Anime Fandom's Most Controversial Studio CBR, 2023-07-08, retrieved 2025-02-08^
- This Week in Anime - Throw Hands with GoHands Anime News Network, 2025-02-08, retrieved 2025-02-08^
- Princess Lover! Adult Game Gets TV Anime Green-Lit Anime News Network, March 16, 2009, retrieved October 21, 2012^
- Informasi Mengenai TV Cheb TV, retrieved October 21, 2012^
- Russia's Cheburashka Character Gets Japanese TV Anime (Update 2) Anime News Network, 2024-07-31, retrieved 2024-07-31^
- Seitokai Yakuindomo Manga Volume 7 to Bundle Anime DVD Anime News Network, November 17, 2011, retrieved October 21, 2012^
- 'K' Anime Gets Manga Adaptation Anime News Network, May 28, 2012, retrieved October 21, 2012^
- Coppelion Anime's 2nd Promo Confirms Staff, Premiere Anime News Network, September 6, 2013, retrieved February 9, 2023^
- Seitokai Yakuindomo Anime Gets 2nd TV Season, New OAD Anime News Network, 2024-07-31, retrieved 2024-07-31^
- K Anime Project Gets Sequel in 2015 Anime News Network, 2024-07-31, retrieved 2024-07-31^
- GoHands' Hand Shakers Anime's 1st Promo Video Reveals Cast, January Premiere Anime News Network, July 16, 2016, retrieved February 9, 2023^
- Go Hands, Frontier Works Reveal Original Anime Project W'z for 2019 Anime News Network, March 18, 2018, retrieved February 9, 2023^
- Project Scard Franchise Gets Scar on the Praeter Anime by GoHands in January 2021 Anime News Network, September 6, 2020, retrieved February 9, 2023^
- The Girl I Like Forgot Her Glasses Anime Reveals 1st Promo Video, Visual, Staff, Cast Anime News Network, March 14, 2023, retrieved March 14, 2023^
- The Masterful Cat Is Depressed Again Today Anime Reveals Cast, Staff, July Debut Anime News Network, February 9, 2023, retrieved February 9, 2023^
- GoHands Reveals Original Anime Project Momentary Lily With January 2025 Premiere Anime News Network, April 25, 2024, retrieved April 25, 2024^
- https://natalie.mu/comic/news/662754 Comic Natalie, Natasha, Inc, March 5, 2026, retrieved March 5, 2026^
- Mardock Scramble Anime to Be 3 Films Starting in Fall Anime News Network, March 25, 2010, retrieved October 21, 2012^
- K Movie Adaptation Green-lit Anime News Network, May 26, 2013, retrieved September 30, 2013^
- Seitokai Yakuindomo Anime Film Reveals Staff, Cast, July 21 Premiere Anime News Network, 2024-07-31, retrieved 2024-07-31^
- K: Seven Stories (movies) - Anime News Network www.animenewsnetwork.com, retrieved 2024-07-31^
- 2nd Seitokai Yakuindomo Film Slated for January 2021 Anime News Network, 2024-07-31, retrieved 2024-07-31^
- Asa Made Jugyou Chu! Romantic Comedy Manga Gets Anime Anime News Network, November 22, 2011, retrieved October 21, 2012^
- Hand Shakers Anime Gets Unaired Episode With New Character Anime News Network, 2024-07-31, retrieved 2024-07-31^
- GoHands' Original W'z Anime Reveals Unaired Episode on Home Video, Stage Play Adaptation Anime News Network, 2024-07-31, retrieved 2024-07-31^